Dr. Mehmet Oz responded to President Trump’s suggestion to split the MMR vaccine, emphasising its safety and defending the standard immunisation protocol amid political debates over vaccine regulations.
Dr. Mehmet Oz moved to ease concerns on Sunday after President Donald Trump suggested the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine could be dangerous, saying plainly that the shot is not lethal.
Speaking on CBS News’ “Face the Nation”, Oz, who heads the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the MMR vaccine does not pose a risk of death. He nevertheless defended Trump’s executive order calling for the three-in-one immunisation to be divided into separate injections, arguing that the aim is to give parents more control over when their children are vaccinated.
Trump drew criticism earlier this month when, while signing the order, he claimed there could be a risk if the vaccines were given together. Public health experts and vaccine opponents have long clashed over such proposals, and critics say any move to replace the standard MMR shot would face regulatory hurdles because separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not currently approved for use in the United States.
Oz said parents should be able to ask questions about vaccination and added that the federal government would continue to cover the cost of vaccines. He also noted that the final decision on school vaccination requirements rests with the states, while the administration is pressing states to allow exemptions on religious or other grounds.
The dispute comes against a backdrop of renewed pressure on the vaccination system. The MMR shot has been the standard recommendation in the United States since 1989, and similar guidance is used in other developed countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. During the same interview, Oz also addressed longer-term concerns about Medicare finances, saying the administration’s health plan would help extend the life of the hospital insurance trust fund.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
